Category: News

A whale that was caught off Iceland recently that had the appearance characteristics of both blue whiting and longline whale came to Matís for analysis of genotype. There was great uncertainty as to whether the whale was a blue whale, which is a fully protected species, or a hybrid between a blue whale and a longline whale, as the animal had the appearance of both species. Domestic and foreign experts did not agree on whether, but blue whiting fishing is completely illegal. It was therefore important to decide as soon as possible what species the animal was.

Samples from the animal together with other samples from longliners, blue whales and the four hybrids of longliners and blue whales that have previously been caught in Iceland came to Matís for genetic analysis. The analysis is based on the sequencing of a mitochondrial genome that is unique to each species and inherited only from the mother, and a genetic analysis of 15 genetic markers using microsatellite variability.

Matís' genetic analysis revealed that this was a hybrid whale. The mitochondrial analysis showed that the mother of the hybrid was a blue whale, but the 15-gene analysis was a hybrid. Experts from Matís and the Marine Research Institute analyzed the data and processed the results.

You can learn more about this genetic analysis and research on the website Marine Research Institute.

Contact Davíð Gíslason expert, davidg@matis.is.

The market will next be open in Pakkhúsið on Saturday 28 July at 13-16.

The Hofsós farmers' market in the historic Pakkhús Hofsós was open last Saturday, July 14, with various delicacies straight from the farm, lamb, beef, goat meat, smoked meat, minced meat, vegetables, summer flowers, cut roses, signi fish, dried eggs, hawk eggs, dried fish , duck eggs, chicken eggs, honey, ointments and creams and more.

The market was well attended and people came a long way to get products directly from farmers and producers in Skagafjörður.

Welcome!

The collaborative project between Skagan 3X, Matís and the fishing companies FISK Seafood, Brims, Skinneyjar Þinganess, Þorbjarnar, Ögurvík and HB Grandi aimed to develop technology to increase the value of catfish catches.

Since the emphasis was placed on the development of equipment through increased value creation of catfish catches in the report of the working group of the Ministry of Fisheries on improving the utilization of catfish catches in October 2010, there have been some changes in the fisheries sector with a change in fishing patterns. There is less emphasis on processing / freezing on board factory ships, but more emphasis on complete processing on land. There has been a large increase in the processing of fresh fillets for export, which can rightly be called complete processing, as the product is ready for the consumer and for use in restaurants and canteens. Fresh fish processing of cod and haddock is the most valuable today and with the increased frequency and number of airlines' destinations, more opportunities have opened up for the marketing of fresh fish. A certain development has also taken place following work within projects on supercooling, including the project "Superchilling of Fish" which was carried out with the support of Nordic Marine Innovation 2.0 and Rannís. In Iceland, five trawlers have been equipped with supercooling equipment from Skagan 3X, two salmon processing plants have taken the equipment into use and Norwegian salmon processing plants are in the starting holes.

The project involved the design and adaptation of processing equipment to supercooled raw materials and the development of a sub-Zero Skinner that could work on supercooled fillets, but traditional machines have not been able to handle the project. The idea is to use supercooling to ensure homogeneity in raw materials taken through processing, ie. decapitation, filleting, trimming, cutting (water cutting) and packing in fresh fish packages.

The project included an experiment in which a six-day-old haddock, which is a particularly sensitive raw material for processing, was partially supercooled and compared with the traditional chilled catch that was processed in the traditional way. There was no overcooling from fishing, but the results provide a great deal of information on whether it is possible to ensure homogeneous raw materials. With the cooling, the fish becomes stiffer and can withstand all the treatment much better.

An attempt was also made to compare the processing of super-chilled catch from Engey RE and the traditional catch from Helgi María RE in HB Grandi's processing in Vopnafjörður. Engey's catch was not frozen on board or transported from Reykjavík, where it was landed, and to Vopnafjörður, where the experiment was carried out. The processing uses a Sub-Zero Skinner skinning machine and a SUPER-CHILLER fillet freezer. Attempts were also made to supercool cod in sludge before processing to monitor the function of the hardware and the temperature of the product recorded through the processing process.

The results of the studies indicated that sub-Zero Skinner fillets could be skinned or super-chilled fillets more efficiently than with conventional skinner machines, which supports the use of the method. There is a lot of work to be done if it is possible to reduce fillet defects during processing and increase the quality and utilization of production. It is also important that it is possible to maintain the temperature of a product close to 0 ° C and pack fresh products below or at that temperature. The low packing temperature ensures the necessary life of the product in fresh fish and makes the use of dry ice unnecessary to bring the temperature down before transport. The use of dry ice is both costly and can cause frostbite to the product.

Ice-free catches and the transport of fresh products for export can both save money as well as significantly reduce the footprint of fish products, especially in the case of transport by air to distant markets.

Partners thank the Technology Development Fund and the AVS Fisheries Research Fund for their support of the project. 

Today, there is a growing demand to buy products directly from the farm, both from Icelandic consumers and also from tourists, where a connection is formed between the farmer and the consumer. Farmers can create considerable added value by taking care of all stages of agricultural production themselves. But in order for this to be economical, there is a lack of the possibility that farmers can take care of the killing of the animals themselves, so that all the added value is created on the farms themselves. 

Today, the livelihoods of many farmers, and especially sheep farmers, are very poor and it is important to create an environment that gives farmers a variety of opportunities to create a livelihood that is guaranteed not to threaten consumer safety. This was stated, among other things, in lectures by Atli Már Traustason and Þrastar Heiðar Erlingsson at Matís' meeting in Miðgarður, Varmahlíð, on 5 July. By supporting farmers to create their own value, farmers and settlements can market themselves further, pursue innovation and create jobs for young people who are returning to the settlements. It is equally important to maintain the current know-how as well as to train farmers in product handling to maintain quality and food safety.

According to Atli Már, it is necessary for a future slaughter system to be composed of three sizes of slaughter license holders, but such a system gives farmers a real choice to better manage their own production and service market. Large slaughterhouses would receive the largest amount and would continue to produce for the entire market. Smaller artisanal slaughterhouses are new today and can produce special products, for example for hotels and restaurants. Slaughterhouses or micro-slaughterhouses would then be a new possibility where farmers could serve their customers directly and provide farmers with more flexibility, service tourists and produce small crafts, would promote innovation and strengthen settlements and human life in the countryside. According to Þresti Heiðar, co-operation between individual farmers but also between farmers and larger production facilities in this field is a key factor in maintaining a successful slaughter and production system. Adaptation control is also important, and it is necessary for controls and regulations to take into account the real risks in order to protect the consumer and ensure food safety.

Videos, with the main points made in the case of Atli and Þrastar, can be found below, but in addition a meeting that was held recently in Miðgarður, is accessible in its entirety on YouTube channel Matís.

The first opening day of Bændamarkaður in Pakkhúsið in Hofsós was on Saturday 30 June. This is a pilot project run by Matís, in collaboration with farmers and producers in Skagafjörður and the National Museum of Iceland, but Pakkhúsið is a cultural-historical building from around 1777 and belongs to the National Museum's Museum.

The market was very well attended and there was a great atmosphere throughout the opening hours, but an accordionist was present and played Icelandic songs.

Ten Skagafjörður farmers and producers sold their products on the market and there were various items on offer, including lamb, beef, goat meat, dug and smoked meat, sigin fish, dried fish, shark, Skagafjörður honey, chicken eggs, duck eggs, green chicken eggs, cereal eggs, spiced chicken eggs summer flowers, cut roses and crafts. The market will be open this summer on advertised Saturdays at 13-16, with an emphasis on products directly from farmers and producers in Skagafjörður.

The next market will be held next Saturday, July 14, at 13-16. The product range will be similar to before, but in addition new products can be expected, such as fresh rhubarb, fresh fish, Skagafjörður ointments and more, in addition to which Veitingastaðurinn Sólvík, opposite Pakkhúsið, will sell beer from Siglufjörður's neighbors on the occasion of the market. .

Further information about Bændamarkaður Hofsós and opening hours is available on the market's Facebook page ( Hofsós Farmers' Market ) and on Matís' Facebook page ( MatisIceland )

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Tuesday released a detailed report on the effects of climate change on fisheries and aquaculture. The report, which covers six hundred pages of material from over two hundred authors, contains one of the most comprehensive assessments of the issue published to date and places particular emphasis on the importance of the development of action and adaptation plans and their implementation.

Carbon dioxide levels have increased by 40% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The main causes are emissions from fossil fuels, deforestation and agriculture. It is therefore hardly misleading that this enormous increase is man-made. The world's oceans have bound about 25-30% of this carbon dioxide and have also absorbed about 93% of the temperature rise that has taken place since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, which has led to global warming as well as sea level rise by an average of 0.19 m. In addition, this high ocean uptake causes CO₂increased acidification of the sea, but the acidity of the sea has increased by an average of 26% since the Industrial Revolution, which is thought to have a detrimental effect on terrifying organisms. Following this development, it is clear that the world's oceans, as well as lakes and water systems, are undergoing major changes. Recent forecasts suggest that these changes will increase further in the near future, which could have a significant impact on the capacity of the ocean and freshwater systems to support the fisheries and aquaculture production we rely on today.

What changes are taking place?

The impact of climate change on potential world power was assessed under two different scenarios, the most optimistic, RCP2.6, and the most pessimistic, RCP8.5. The conclusion is that under both of these scenarios, the capacity of the sea to support fishing will decrease. Under RCP2.6 it is estimated that potential domestic power will shrink by 2.8 - 5.3% by the year 2050 (compared to 2000) and under RCP8.5 it will shrink by 7 - 12.1%. Under RCP8.5, these numbers will continue to rise to 16.2% - 25.2% until the end of the 21st century. These changes will have different effects between parts of the world and in rich jurisdictions, where some areas will see an increase while others a decline in catches. The largest recession is expected to occur in tropical countries, especially in the South Pacific. The report cites a study from 2010, where the results showed that the distribution of world catches (ie the share of different countries in the total catch) will change significantly until the year 2055. It assumes an average increase of 30-70% at higher latitudes (north of 50 ° N) but a contraction of 40% in tropical countries. However, although forecasts show that areas at higher latitudes are likely to see an increase in potential catches (including Norway, Russia, Greenland and Canada), it is estimated that by the middle of the century, catches south of the Northeast Atlantic will have shrinks by up to 30%. Forecasts of an increase in total income, fishermen's and households' income, fish prices and other economic values also largely follow the aforementioned forecasts of changes in catches. It should be noted, however, that there was considerable variability between the results of the models applied in areas at higher latitudes and therefore greater uncertainty in those areas.

When looking specifically at the changes that have already taken place in the North Atlantic due to climate change, one can mention the increase in sea surface temperature by 0.1 to 0.5 ° C per decade. However, this warming varied between regions and very few areas, such as the sea east of Greenland, cooled slightly in the years 1982-2010. The pace of this warming has increased significantly since the early 1980s and is expected to continue to increase in the future. Long-term sea level rise has also been observed in the North Atlantic, over a period that now spans decades. This is of particular concern for more northern areas, where the solubility of carbon dioxide is higher in cold water. This trend is expected to continue, but the effects of this acidification on shellfish organisms and juvenile fish are still largely unclear. Changes in the distribution and migration patterns of various species have also been reported, both in the Northeast and the Northwest Atlantic. Such changes have in some cases caused considerable confusion regarding the division of quotas between coastal states and fleets, a problem that is likely to increase further in the future as more species begin to move between state jurisdictions and fisheries management areas.

Impact on aquaculture

Most of the growth in seafood production that is considered necessary to meet increased demand will mainly come from aquaculture and freshwater. It is therefore extremely important to understand the impact of climate change on industry. Climate change is likely to have a direct and indirect effect on aquaculture, both in time and space, but the FAO report calls in particular for more research in this area. Examples of possible short-term effects are a decline in production and damage to infrastructure due to severe weather, diseases, toxic algae and parasites, as well as reduced productivity due to changes in the farming environment. Examples of long-term effects are lack of wild larvae (for shellfish farming), limited access to fresh water and feed, altered farming environment, eutrophication of water or other disturbances of important environmental factors.

Farming in Asia is considered to be the most vulnerable to climate change in terms of freshwater farming, with countries such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and China being specifically mentioned. In terms of aquaculture, Norway and Chile are considered the most vulnerable to future changes, especially in view of the scale of aquaculture in these countries and its economic importance. It should be noted, however, that the Faroe Islands were not included in this assessment due to a lack of data, but it is likely that the Faroe Islands would have been published in a similar location to Chile and Norway, given the importance of the industry to the country. The vulnerability of aquaculture in sea and freshwater is directly linked to its management, whether it is managed by the government and / or the aquaculture companies themselves. Given that aquaculture can be particularly vulnerable to short-term shocks, for example due to weather or other unforeseen environmental factors, it is important to assess both short-term and long-term effects when preparing response and adaptation plans to climate change. 

The FAO concludes that regional and marine planning, as well as ecosystem management, can increase aquaculture's capacity to cope with future climate change, which requires increased knowledge of time and space risk factors, their prioritization and the development of adaptation plans in collaboration with stakeholders. to implement in governance.

Preparation of response and adaptation plans

The ability of fishing companies, fishermen and aquaculture companies to cope with future changes will be determined by their ability to adapt to changing circumstances and short-term shocks. It is therefore necessary to increase our understanding of the basics of adaptability in order to be better equipped to deal with the changes. This can be done by engaging in the development of response and adaptation plans. Not only is it important to identify the key risks and opportunities for adaptation, but it is also important to identify the opportunities offered by the variables for the industry, not just as a whole, but in all its aspects. In this way, those most vulnerable to climate change can be helped to maintain their livelihoods. This is especially important when it comes to developing countries, where small-scale fishing and small-scale aquaculture are a major part of the livelihoods of people and communities. The ability of individuals and societies to adapt to climate change is based on their vulnerability to change, how vulnerable they are to it and their ability to adapt to it. Poor individuals and communities that rely on fisheries and aquaculture are therefore the most vulnerable groups as they are less able to adapt to changing circumstances, both due to their geographical location and economic status.

Matís participates in the ClimeFish project

ClimeFish is one of several large-scale research projects under the umbrella of Europe's fisheries research and innovation program involving Matís, which examines the impact of impending climate change on fishing and aquaculture in sea and freshwater in Europe, as well as setting up response and adaptation programs. . Matís oversees the part of the project that deals with the development of methodologies for preparing such response and adaptation plans. This recent FAO report is therefore a welcome summary of what is happening in the world in this area, but it should be noted that one of the six main authors of the report is also a participant in the ClimeFish project. The final results of the ClimeFish project will be available by April 2020 and will include forecasts of the impact of future climate change on fishing and aquaculture in 16 case studies in Europe, as well as risk analyzes and adaptation plans for 7 of these 16 case studies. Finally, the methodology developed within the project will also be useful for further analysis.

Further information can be obtained from Ragnhildur Friðriksdóttir at Matís and on the website of the ClimeFish project www.climefish.eu.

The FAO report is also available on their website http://www.fao.org/3/I9705EN/i9705en.pdf

The distribution and sale of home-slaughtered products is not allowed today, but what is the real risk? In Germany, farmers' slaughter of lambs under the age of three months is kept to a minimum, as the risk to consumers is assessed as low. Direct trade in the products of those lambs is not subject to restrictions beyond traditional products, but this was stated in a lecture by Andreas Hensel, CEO of the German risk assessment agency BfR at Matís' meeting in Miðgarður, Varmahlíð, on 5 July.

In order to be able to make changes to regulations and laws regarding food production, it must be ensured that these changes do not threaten the safety and health of consumers. On the other hand, there are many opportunities to allow the sale of home-slaughtered products to promote innovation and product development in agricultural products. But we need to know what the risk is, how much it is and what we can do to minimize it. A risk assessment based on scientific analysis and calculation is a tool that provides public regulators with an overview of the real risks so that they can be limited but also the flexibility to allow farmers to produce products at home on a farm in an approved facility that meets hygiene and living conditions. food production. Risk assessment is therefore the first step in tailoring a system that allows the sale of products and products from home slaughter, based on realistic supervision by public bodies, traceability and good training of farmers to ensure product quality and safety.

Today, farmers can set up small meat processing plants where it is possible to process products from their own livestock, but one aspect of the production chain, i.e. killing of the animals, must take place in slaughterhouses. The consumer's interest in products directly from the farm is constantly increasing and the trade in food via the internet has become a reality today. Abroad, it is possible to buy products directly from the farm, as all stages of production actually take place on the farm. To this end, it is certainly necessary to strengthen the infrastructure of the farms in order to ensure that production is safe. The introduction of a risk assessment with the appointment of a risk assessment committee is therefore long overdue, as its risk assessment can give farmers the opportunity to conduct direct trade in meat and meat products to Icelandic consumers and tourists directly from the farm, where the value and profit from production flows directly to the farmer.

For more information Hrönn Jörundsdóttir, 858-5112.

This weekend, Matís hosted a meeting on the possibility of direct trade in home-slaughtered meat and the importance of risk assessment in that context. The meeting was held in Miðgarður in Skagafjörður and was very well attended, as it is clear that there is great interest among farmers to slaughter on their farms and sell the products in direct trade to consumers.

Among the speakers was Andreas Hensel, President of the German Risk Assessment Agency BfR. In Andreas 'case, it was stated, among other things, that various exemptions are in force in Germany for farmers' direct trade, including the sale of unpasteurized milk at the so-called "Milchhaltestelle" on farms. At the same time, monitoring of farmers' slaughter of lambs under the age of three months is kept to a minimum, as the risk to consumers is assessed as low. Direct trade in the products of those hinges is not subject to restrictions in excess of traditional products. The basis for obtaining such exemptions was the availability of scientific risk assessments and measures to minimize risks, such as training farmers in slaughtering and handling meat products.

Other speakers were Freydís Dana Sigurðardóttir, director of livestock control at the Food Administration, Atli Már Traustason, farmer at Höfdälar, Þröstur Heiðar Erlingsson, farmer at Birkihlíð and Hrönn Jörundsdóttir, director of Matís. Lively discussions following the presentations reflected the great interest of farmers and the importance of facilitating direct trade in home-slaughtered meat.

The broadcast of the meeting can be accessed on Matís' Facebook page. In the next few days, the content of the meeting will be better explained, but following it, the employees of Matís and Matvælastofnun decided to work together on the progress of the case.

For more information Hrönn Jörundsdóttir, 858-5112.

Here you can see a recording from the meeting.

And slides from the meeting can be found below:

• What are the farmers' benefits from risk assessment? - Hrönn
• Do you want to buy home-slaughtered? - Freydís
• Do you want to buy home-slaughtered? - Atli Már 

Matís is working on the project "Healing power of organic whey“. The aim of the project is to find a way to utilize an underutilized resource in a sustainable way, ie. Icelandic organic whey in skin care products. It is hoped that the research will lead to an increase in the value of whey and at the same time reduce natural disasters, as this product would otherwise go far into the sea.

The project involves a lot of novelty, but the properties of whey biomaterials will be examined in particular with regard to skin health. Cosmetics that contain organic matter from Icelandic organic whey would be a completely new addition to the cosmetics market.

The project runs from April to December 2018 and is funded by the Agricultural Productivity Fund.  

The professional leader of the project is Rósa Jónsdóttir and the contact person is Halla Halldórsdóttir. 

Matís invites to a meeting in Miðgarður, Varmahlíð

Matís invites to a meeting in Miðgarður, Varmahlíð, on Thursday 5 July 2018 at 13:00, where challenges and opportunities related to innovation in agriculture, sales and distribution of products from home slaughter and the importance of risk assessment will be discussed. Everyone is welcome to the meeting.

Home slaughter has been practiced since the beginning of agriculture, but the distribution and sale of products from home slaughter is not permitted, according to current laws and regulations. 

But what is the risk? Is it possible to allow the sale and distribution of home-slaughtered animals, ensure consumer safety and increase farmers' value creation?

The meeting will discuss, among other things, farmers 'benefits from risk assessment and farmers' perspectives - opportunities and challenges will be addressed, see more agenda of the meeting.

The meeting will be broadcast live via Matís' Facebook page www.facebook.com/matisiceland and it will be possible to submit questions that will be addressed. Sveinn Margeirsson, CEO of Matís, will chair the meeting.